The Sesc Literature Prize — run by Sesc (Serviço Social do Comércio), a Brazilian non-profit cultural and welfare body funded by the commerce sector — is open for entries of unpublished works in the novel, short story and poetry categories. Each winner receives R$ 30,000 and has the book published by Editora Senac Rio.
Entries are open until March 2, 2026. The results come out in August.
How the judging works
The selection is made by an anonymous jury — literary critics, writers and editors assess the manuscripts without knowing who wrote them.
It is the part of the rules that explains all the rest: a prize that judges blind has no way of rewarding reputation, only the text.
What the prize sets out to correct
"The prize identifies authors who often have works of high artistic merit," said Leonardo Minervini, acting Culture manager at the National Department of Sesc — authors who fall outside the major distribution channels.
According to him, the aim is to give first-time authors "real entry into the publishing market and direct contact with the public across the country." Beyond publication, the winners take part in cultural events around the country.
Two decades in numbers
Since 2003, the prize has received some 24,000 entries and launched 43 authors.
That is 43 debuts in 23 years — few, if measured against the 24,000 entries; a good many, if measured against the number of publishers willing to bring out a first book of poetry.
With information from Agência Brasil. Original report by Camila Boehm, published on February 8, 2026.
